Ghosting Vista to lab computers

We bought 200 computers(HP Workstation XW4400 with Windows Buisnes OEM)
to our computer lab.
For first 8 weeks we was running Windows 2000 pro (so called
downgrading) on all computers, because I did knew how to ghost and roll
out it. No activations and such things. Just make ghost, ghost all
computers and run ghostwalk on all of them.

How I can ghost OEM Vista to all of the computers. Can I install one
machine with original OEM Vista and ghost it the same way Windows 2000 I
done. Then rollout and run ghost walk. What with activation. As I know
HP is using master registration key, and all machine are the same.
Will ghosting work this way????
Need help ASAP


Regards
Marcus

The problem is, all those 200 computers will have to be manually activated.
Unless you are mistakening Windows Vista Business (OEM) with actual install
Volume License copies. I suspect they are not actually OEM Windows Business
but Volume License.

The best way to do mass deployment of Vista is to learn how to use tools
such as XIMAGE:

Here are some references you might want to look at:

Deploying Windows Vista:
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...ows-Vista.html

XIMAGE and WIM image format:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/win...rt/ximage.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tec...11/Deployment/
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tec...D/default.aspx
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry


"MarcusB" <bafi@linux.nu> wrote in message
news:ua7NMb$GIHA.6068@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> We bought 200 computers(HP Workstation XW4400 with Windows Buisnes OEM) to
> our computer lab.
> For first 8 weeks we was running Windows 2000 pro (so called downgrading)
> on all computers, because I did knew how to ghost and roll out it. No
> activations and such things. Just make ghost, ghost all computers and run
> ghostwalk on all of them.
>
> How I can ghost OEM Vista to all of the computers. Can I install one
> machine with original OEM Vista and ghost it the same way Windows 2000 I
> done. Then rollout and run ghost walk. What with activation. As I know HP
> is using master registration key, and all machine are the same.
> Will ghosting work this way????
> Need help ASAP
>
>
> Regards
> Marcus

If it will to complicated I will stay with windows 2000. I need simple
way. We do not have time to activate each ghosted machine. We used to
ghost computers 3 times during year.

Yes all computers are OEM Buisnes Vista.


Regards
Marcus
Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
> The problem is, all those 200 computers will have to be manually activated.
> Unless you are mistakening Windows Vista Business (OEM) with actual install
> Volume License copies. I suspect they are not actually OEM Windows Business
> but Volume License.
>
> The best way to do mass deployment of Vista is to learn how to use tools
> such as XIMAGE:
>
> Here are some references you might want to look at:
>
> Deploying Windows Vista:
> http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...ows-Vista.html
>
> XIMAGE and WIM image format:
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/win...rt/ximage.mspx
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tec...11/Deployment/
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tec...D/default.aspx

You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated with
mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you should look
into.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"MarcusB" <bafi@linux.nu> wrote in message
news:%23rWTZz$GIHA.1316@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> If it will to complicated I will stay with windows 2000. I need simple
> way. We do not have time to activate each ghosted machine. We used to
> ghost computers 3 times during year.
>
> Yes all computers are OEM Buisnes Vista.
>
>
> Regards
> Marcus
> Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
>> The problem is, all those 200 computers will have to be manually
>> activated. Unless you are mistakening Windows Vista Business (OEM) with
>> actual install Volume License copies. I suspect they are not actually OEM
>> Windows Business but Volume License.
>>
>> The best way to do mass deployment of Vista is to learn how to use tools
>> such as XIMAGE:
>>
>> Here are some references you might want to look at:
>>
>> Deploying Windows Vista:
>> http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...ows-Vista.html
>>
>> XIMAGE and WIM image format:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/win...rt/ximage.mspx
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tec...11/Deployment/
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tec...D/default.aspx

It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
> You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
> computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated with
> mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you should look
> into.

No, its easy if you use the free XIMAGE tools which make it way more
automated to deploy Vista, manage and update your Vista systems. You can
even make changes to your WIM images on the fly and deploy updates without
any disruption. I just believe its the approach you took to procuring the
purchase of your computers. When organizations make large system purchases,
the intent is that you have a Volume License contract to make managing those
systems a lot easier, you don't have to deal with things like activation for
example. The good thing about the OEM license is, machine is already
licensed, so all you would have to do is use the Vista Business Volume
License (which is an upgrade) to upgrade those OEM installs of Vista
Business.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"MarcusB" <bafi@linux.nu> wrote in message
news:%23RtCGEAHIHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
> with ghosting will not work with Vista.
> Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
> like Windows think about another OS etc...
>
>
> Regards
> Marcus
>
> Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
>> You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
>> computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated
>> with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you should
>> look into.

We are using volume licensing for all our 2000 and some Xp machines, but
with Vista it is not the same. You have to run KMS server, but we do not
want to run such server (extra point of failure). What about machines
which loose network connection to KMS server or are not connected to the
same network? No no it is too complicated.
With 2000 it was so easy. Just make a ghost, ghosting and run ghostwalk.

Regards
Marcus
Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
> No, its easy if you use the free XIMAGE tools which make it way more
> automated to deploy Vista, manage and update your Vista systems. You can
> even make changes to your WIM images on the fly and deploy updates without
> any disruption. I just believe its the approach you took to procuring the
> purchase of your computers. When organizations make large system purchases,
> the intent is that you have a Volume License contract to make managing those
> systems a lot easier, you don't have to deal with things like activation for
> example. The good thing about the OEM license is, machine is already
> licensed, so all you would have to do is use the Vista Business Volume
> License (which is an upgrade) to upgrade those OEM installs of Vista
> Business.

MarcusB wrote:
> It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
> with ghosting will not work with Vista.
> Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
> like Windows think about another OS etc...
>
>
> Regards
> Marcus
>
> Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
>> You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
>> computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated
>> with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you
>> should look into.


You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in the
future based on recent activation problems when a server crashed.
Besides that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still issues which
belong in a Beta version, not production software. Unfortunately the
problem with activation is being backported to XP and Windows 2003
server. MS need to stop this behavior toward honest customers now or
else as you say, people will start to look somewhere else. I support
their right to avoid theft and piracy but NOT their right to consider
everybody a thief until proven otherwise.

And thats why Microsoft has volume license programs to avoid this. You don't
have to activate Volume License software. Microsoft sells the software in
confidence that they won't abuse the system. The majority of pirated copies
of Windows out there are from volume license contracts. As for Vista not
being finished, software is never finished, its always in development. Its
just that the software reaches a level of stability and users/businesses
want additional functionality and ease of use, so during that development,
software is stabilized with new features.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
news:%23UrywmAHIHA.5584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> MarcusB wrote:
>> It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
>> with ghosting will not work with Vista.
>> Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
>> like Windows think about another OS etc...
>>
>>
>> Regards
>> Marcus
>>
>> Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
>>> You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
>>> computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated
>>> with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you should
>>> look into.
>
>
> You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in the
> future based on recent activation problems when a server crashed. Besides
> that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still issues which belong in a
> Beta version, not production software. Unfortunately the problem with
> activation is being backported to XP and Windows 2003 server. MS need to
> stop this behavior toward honest customers now or else as you say, people
> will start to look somewhere else. I support their right to avoid theft
> and piracy but NOT their right to consider everybody a thief until proven
> otherwise.

MarcusB wrote:
> We are using volume licensing for all our 2000 and some Xp machines,
> but with Vista it is not the same. You have to run KMS server, but we
> do not want to run such server (extra point of failure). What about
> machines which loose network connection to KMS server or are not
> connected to the same network? No no it is too complicated.
> With 2000 it was so easy. Just make a ghost, ghosting and run
> ghostwalk.

If it's too complicated, hire a 12-year old male.